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Should The Australian Open Change the Surface Due to Risk of Injuries?

2K views 28 replies 20 participants last post by  longtin23 
#1 ·
It's the slam that seems to produce the most injuries probably due to the sticky plexicushion surface. It's the first slam of the year and already so many mishaps (eg. Serena's ankle, Na falling twice and hitting her head). Players shouldn't be injured left and right this early in the calendar year. It makes more sense to see it happening towards the end of the year due to fatigue or wear and tear. At this point, they need to consider player's safety first. What should they change it to, and who would it benefit more if they do change it?
 
#2 ·
I don't care what they change it to, but please! For the love of all that is good and great, PLEASE speed the shit up. I swear, on some of those days it felt like I was watching some matches on those godawful blue clay courts in Madrid last year. Why do they have to be so slow? Okay, getting back to topic. I believe something needs to be done. Serena's cooked her ankle twice now on that Plexicrap. I know I might be called biased because I stan for her, but good grief. What's it going to take? Another Mary Pierce-like injury to happen on this stuff before they do something? I want Rebound Ace back.
 
#6 ·
To be different than the US Open.

I don't think there is anything wrong with the court. I think we are seeing unfit players - not physically, but match play, from the layoff of the seasons, and their lack of footwork is showing.

Serena's rollover would have happened anywhere. Li's was just lack of concentration. Not the surface.
 
#5 ·
Yes IMO they should change it to a less sticky surface. I'm not sure what needs to be done for that to happen but I think it should change. I remember another poster here posting about it before talking about how dangerous the surface was because of a certain injury that could happen with the ankle. Something like a stuck foot idk.
 
#8 · (Edited)
Why can't the AO be the carpet slam? Not sure if carpet causes more injuries or not... but on a tangent, I don't understand why there has to be two HC slams when there are four such surfaces. It would make sense to have a carpet season too. Mix up the variety.

As for the original question, I think Na and Serena were just unlucky. If maybe 30-40% of players started rolling their ankle, I could understand.
 
#20 · (Edited)
AO should be held on clay or decoturf tbh :hearts:

On top of Serena and Na's problems, Novak's had trouble with footing both tonight and against Wawrinka. Seems to be a bit sticky ...
 
#26 ·
No please... I am happy as long as Na reaching the final. :secret: I won't mind if they put the final match on daytime, though. :angel:
 
#29 ·
I mean dont speed up the court because it's a characteristic for AO being a hard court slower than USO...
 
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